Green thinking: Eight ways to save the planet and cut costs...

1. Regenerative braking.

It was a significant breakthrough in 2008 when, working closely with Network Rail and train builder Bombardier, Southern and Southeastern became the first rail operators to introduce regenerative braking on the third rail system. Regenerative braking saves energy by capturing electricity through braking and returning it to the rail network.

For Southern, where around two thirds of the fleet is now fitted with regenerative braking, this reduced electricity traction...